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EDITORIALS
Feb 19, 2010

Give hospital doctors a raise

In a report for fiscal 2010 submitted Feb. 12 to health minister Akira Nagatsuma, the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) calls for greater remuneration for hospitals. This would be a step forward in the government's effort to stem the stream of resignations by hospital doctors and thus...
COMMENTARY
Feb 19, 2010

Japan, China, past, present

China's recent economic progress coupled with its growing assertiveness in international politics has, in Asia, Europe and the U.S., given rise to some concern and a number of commentaries about the role of China in international politics.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 19, 2010

DJ Krush spins some tales

After 20 years in the DJ game, DJ Krush is widely acclaimed as the king of Japanese hip-hop, and, as a much sought after turntabilist, his impeccable skills have impressed crowds all over world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Feb 19, 2010

Shangri-La's first anniversary

In celebration of the first anniversary of its opening on March 2, Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo is offering two commemorative accommodation packages.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 19, 2010

Umibachi skirts industry suits for newest release

"Basically women are body conscious and men play with their joysticks. The woman is in the more powerful position. The idea is about woman and man, sexual and urban."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 19, 2010

'Rudo y Cursi'

It's probably just me, but when the economy's this bad, even the latest movies seem to be all about bankruptcy, conspiracy, mindless consumption, bad plumbing, etc. Even when a film is about multitudes of people falling in and out of love in sunny Los Angeles (See "Valentine's Day," well, then again,...
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 18, 2010

Tracking the recession with the Moyashi Index

The Moyashi Index: When bean sprout consumption goes up, it means grocery spending is down. And yes, families are eating more moyashi these days.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 16, 2010

Steeped in tradition, Shinto, sumo is also scandal-stained

The national sport of sumo traces its origins to an early Shinto ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest, and the professional tournaments of today date to the 17th century during the Edo Period.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2010

Toyota-hired ex-NHTSA staff helped end probes

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) Former regulators hired by Toyota Motor Corp. helped end at least four federal investigations of unintended acceleration by company vehicles in the last decade, warding off possible recalls, court and government records show.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Feb 14, 2010

A winter's tale of time-warp Takayama

After a while you tire of the easy destinations — the usual spots with their inevitable touristic clutter. So you decide on somewhere different — somewhere that's far from the madding crowds and far, too, from the yet more madding megaphone-toting tour guides.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media
Feb 14, 2010

An 'eroduction' to Japan's saucy cinema

The Nikkatsu studio is the Japanese film industry's oldest — it will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012. In the 1950s and early 1960s it was also a box-office leader, turning out hit after hit with Japan's biggest postwar star, Yujiro Ishihara. By the 1970s, however, Nikkatsu and the rest of the...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 14, 2010

Foreign trainees easily exploited as bosses take advantage of system

Several weeks ago, TV Asahi's nightly news show "Hodo Station" ran a special report on the uncertain future of Japanese agriculture.
JAPAN
Feb 13, 2010

Kyoto plans kimono revival with metropolitan designs in Tokyo

Kyoto will open a casual kimono store in Tokyo in March aimed at spreading the traditional outfit among metropolitan women, the city announced Friday.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Feb 12, 2010

QR code breaking out of the box

Companies and municipalities are still finding new ways to unlock the potential of QR codes in Japan.
EDITORIALS
Feb 12, 2010

Mr. Hatoyama's bold move

In a bold and surprising move, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Wednesday appointed Mr. Yukio Edano, a 45-year-old Democratic Party of Japan Lower House member, as administrative reform minister. Mr. Edano, well-versed in policy matters, is highly qualified as a government waste-cutter. His joining the...
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2010

Edano tasked with polishing Cabinet's image

Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yukio Edano was appointed the new administrative reform minister Wednesday, as the Hatoyama administration works to clean up the Cabinet's scandal-tainted image.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / STYLE WISE
Feb 11, 2010

Style that's top, sweet, masculine, temporary and trademarked

Topshop stays on top
COMMENTARY
Feb 10, 2010

In search of a big, new idea

Governments everywhere are nowadays being overpowered by the problems and tasks they face.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Feb 9, 2010

'Otaku' turns passion for collecting into gold mine

Danny Choo, a Tokyo-based computer programmer and entrepreneur, calls himself a full-time "otaku."
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Feb 7, 2010

Motivational sport stories, fishermen surviving in a declining industry, and CM of the week: Takefuji

It takes a special kind of determination to make it as a professional athlete, especially when personal problems get in the way. The stories told on "Athlete Kando Gekijo" (Athlete Emotional Theater; TV Tokyo, Wed., 9:54 p.m.) are of people who overcame adversity to excel at their chosen sports.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Feb 7, 2010

Clutch shooters create excitement in bj-league

Basketball aficionados and casual fans alike remember Michael Jordan's clutch shots in the closing seconds of games. Other clutch shooters, such as Jerry West and Reggie Miller, have buried dozens of shots that separate them from the NBA's ordinary scorers.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2010

Sumo failed to keep champ in check

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who announced his retirement Thursday, is one of the strongest sumo wrestlers of modern times.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 5, 2010

Colts' Moore says trust key to relationship with Manning

MIAMI — Jim Caldwell is the third head coach Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has played for since he entered in the NFL in 1998. But during the course of his storied professional career, Manning has had only one offensive coordinator.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 5, 2010

'Valentine's Day'

If nothing else, "Valentine's Day" shows you how to spend the romantic day with sanity and dignity and be in Los Angeles.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Feb 5, 2010

Kamikozawa-tei: Shabu-shabu in modernist mode

There's no finer way to eat on a chilly winter evening than sitting around a bubbling nabe hot pot. No matter what the ingredients — meat, fish, tofu or vegetables — just cooking and eating from the same communal casserole is nourishment for both body and soul.
JAPAN
Feb 3, 2010

Tolls to be lifted on 1,626 km of highways

The transport ministry Tuesday unveiled a plan to make 1,626 km of the nation's expressways toll-free in fiscal 2010, an experiment in accordance with the ruling party's key election promise to eventually remove user fees from most rural expressways.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji